Then he said to them, “So give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.                                           Matthew 22 : 21 - 22

Bible reading : Matthew 22 : 15 - 22

Thought for the week

These days it is unusual to come across a coin. I can’t remember the last time I was given a coin in a shop, or even had one in my pocket. Coins have become a reminder of when life was different. When both coins and people were able to circulate freely.

Jesus is challenged again by the Pharisees. Devout Jewish people were not allowed to handle the Roman coin. Yet not to do so, and not to pay tax with the coin, was an act of rebellion against Rome. The Roman coin bore the head of Caesar. It was an everyday reminder that the Empire, and the people within it, were under Roman rule. Were subjects.

Yet the Bible tells us we are made in God’s image (Genesis 1 : 27). We bear His imprint in our lives. We reflect who He is in the world. Through faith in Jesus we belong to the Lord.

Maybe at this time we need to be reminded of the Lord’s light in our lives. His strength. That through faith we are people of Jesus’ Cross and Resurrection. In all we are going through, in all that challenges us and confronts us, Jesus reminds us He will not let us go. That we belong to Him alone.

Rev Paul

Prayer for this week

God, our judge and Saviour,

teach us to be open to your truth

and to trust in your love,

that we may live each day

with confidence in the salvation which is given

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Advent begins on Sunday 29th November.